Move Microsoft Store Apps to Another Drive in Windows 11
Moving Microsoft Store apps to another drive in Windows 11 lets you free up space on your main C: drive without uninstalling your games or losing your saved data. Windows 11 handles this transfer automatically for any apps and games downloaded from the official store, moving them to a second internal hard drive or external solid-state drive in just a few clicks.
Open Settings, go to Apps, and choose the installed apps list to pick what you want to move. Freeing up drive space keeps your PC running fast and stops low-disk warnings from popping up while you play games or use heavy programs.
Go to Settings Apps Apps & features. Find the app, click the three dots, select Move, and choose your desired drive. Windows will automatically transfer the app files to the new location.
What kinds of apps can you move?
You can only move Microsoft Store apps to another drive in Windows 11. These are apps you download directly from the built-in Microsoft Store, such as games and small utilities. Traditional desktop programs that use their own web installers, like Google Chrome or Spotify, cannot be moved using the Windows settings menu and must be reinstalled instead.
- Microsoft Store apps: Apps you get from the Microsoft Store (like games, utilities, or other programs). These can be moved to another drive.
- Standalone apps: Programs you install using their own installers (like Google Chrome or Spotify). These usually cannot be moved this way.
Where are Microsoft Store apps stored?
By default, these apps are saved on your Windows (C:) drive inside special folders like WindowsApps and Packages. But you can move them to other drives (internal or even external, like USB drives or SD cards) formatted with NTFS.
How to move Microsoft Store apps to another drive in 🪟 Windows 11
You can move Microsoft Store apps to a different hard drive using the Windows 11 Settings app without uninstalling them. Open your system settings, go to the apps list, select the program you want to relocate, and click the move button to transfer its files to your secondary drive. This frees up space on your main drive while keeping your saved data intact.
- Open Settings :
- Click the Start button (Windows icon in the bottom-left corner) and then click Settings.
- Or press Win+I on your keyboard.
- In Settings, click Apps on the left menu.
windows 11 settings apps on menu
- Click Apps & features on the right.
windows 11 apps and features tile
- Find the app you want to move:
Scroll or search the list for the Microsoft Store app you want to move.
- Click the three dots (⋮) next to the app, then select Move.
windows 11 app move command to another drive
- Choose the new drive:
A small window will pop up telling you the app is currently on your C: drive. Click the drop-down menu, pick the drive you want to move the app to, then click Move.
windows 11 app move command to another drive select location
- Wait for the app to move:
Windows will create two folders namedWindowsAppsandWpSystemon the new drive to store the app files.
windows 11 store app moved to another drive
That’s it! Your app is now running from the new drive, freeing up space on your main drive.
Why move apps to another drive?
- Free up space on your main system drive (C:), which helps your PC run better.
- Use a larger or faster drive for apps.
- You can move apps to internal or external drives formatted with NTFS.
Additional tips:
- You can only move apps installed from the Microsoft Store this way.
- External drives like USB sticks or SD cards must be NTFS (not FAT32 or exFAT) to move apps.
- If you remove the drive with the moved app, the app will not work until you reconnect it.
Moving Microsoft Store apps requires an external drive formatted using the NTFS file system rather than FAT32 or exFAT. Keep in mind that external drives must remain plugged into your computer for the transferred programs to work properly. If you disconnect the drive, the apps on it will stop working until you plug it back in.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!